Vacuum cleaner



June 23, 1942. D. M. DOW ETAL 2,287,515

VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed March 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT June 23, 1942.. D. M. bow EFAL 1 VACUUM CLEANER Original Filed March 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 Z INVELI/ZOWM Patented June 23, 1942 VACUUM CLEANER Dewey M. Dow and Frederick H. Burmeister,

Toledo, Ohio, and Christian R. Heckler, Wilmington, Del., assignors to Air-Way Electric-- Appliance Corporation ration 01' Delaware Toledo, Ohio, a corpo- Original application March 8, 1935, Serial No. 9,934. Divided and this application February 27, 1940, Serial No. 321,042

7 Claims.

which taken in connection .with the accompany-- ing drawings sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is hereby distinctly understood that such description and disclosure is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention which is limited only by the appended claims and any and all modifications, variations and alterations of structure coming within the spirit and scope thereof are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a section view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 66 of Figs. 2 and 3.

This applicationis a division of our previous application S. N. 9,934, filed March 8, 1935, now Patent No. 2,213,792, September 3, 1940.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is detailed specifically in a cleaner characterized generally by the disclosures in Figs. 1 and '2, in which I is a hollow suction handle which is secured in the upper intake 2 of fan case 3. Fan case 3 is provided with a second intake 4 in which is fixed a tube 5 interiorly connected to thefloor' tool 6. The fan case 3 has fixed thereto a valve chamber 5, provided with a valve 8, adapted to direct suction to intakes 2 or 4, depending upon the setting of the valve 8.- The details of the actual valve construction may be similar to those shown in U. S. Patent Re. 16,224.

Fan case 3 is provided with an outlet 9, to which paper bag I0 is connected. Y

Fan case 3 has a suction producing unit secured thereto comprising an electric motor and a direct driven fan, assembled therein in the well known manner. Paper bag |0-is provided with an outer cover |2to serve as a protective medium therefor. The outer cover I2 is removably suspended from a switch housing I3, mounted on the upper part of the handle I, and from suitable eyelets provided inappropriate brackets carried by fan case exhaust 9.

Power is conducted to the switchin switch housing |3 by conductor l4, and from the switch to motor II by means of conductor I5. The speeiflc details of this construction may be found in U. S. Patents 2,010,035 and 2,023,902.

The tube 5 is fixed to one part of a swivel coupling It to enable the handle and its associated structure to be rotated on its own axis relative to the floor tool 6. Coupling 5 consists of an element I! to which a collar ring I8 is threaded as particularly shown in Fig. 3. An appropriate flange is provided on tube 5 which fits in between abutting portion of collar ring l8 and element Element I! is pivotally mounted to appropriate bosses carried on the floor tool 5 by means of pivot screws IS. A flexible tube 20 is connected between the floor tool outlet 2|, and the upper end of element II. This combination permits a tilting motion of the handle I, and associated structure relative to floor tool 6. The floor tool 6 composes preferably a separable two part structure consisting of a cover portion 2|a secured to a main, or body casting 22, to which cover, or front portion 2|a is secured by means of plurality of screws 23. Portion 22 has a rearward extension 24 on which Wheels 25 and 2B are rotatably mounted by means of shafts 2! and 28. These wheels in connection with wheels and 3| rotatably mounted in bracket 3|, fixedly secured to motor ll, support the entire cleaner for movement over a surface undergoing cleaning treatment.

An agitator unit is mounted in the mouth of the floor tool 6, which mouth is generally defined by nozzle lips 33 and 34, integral with floor tool portions 2| and 22. The agitator is rotatably mounted in a carriage .or frame 35, which is slidably mountedin the floor tool 6. Inthe upper part of the frame 35 a motor field frame or case 36 is mounted, in which armature 31 is disposed for rotation. Armature shaft 38 is supported .for rotation in bearings 39 and 40. Secured to the end of shaft 38 is a pulley ll. Agitator 32 has a pulley 43 thereon and belt 42 connects the two pulleys'whereby rotative movement is transmitted from the motor to the agitator. Suitable sockets 44 are provided in side arms 45 of frame 35, and held in position therein by spring retaining elements 4B, the socket being the recess formed therein. The floor tool 6 is provided with en- Jarged portions 41 and 48, formed on portions 2| and 22 respectively. The motor frame 36 and frame35 is slidably mounted in the floor tool 8 and to enable this function to be performed, portion 48 is further provided with a squared box like portion 49 supporting a rollway block 50, removably secured thereto, as shown more partiedlarly in Fig. 5. Motor frame 38 has a cooperat- 10 ing rollway element 5|, secured thereto by means of screws 52, which in conjunction with the rollway in block 50, permits the motor 36' and frame 35 to slide relatively ofi the floor tool. Balls 53 are placed in the rollways provided in the ways in each of elements 50 and 5|, to materially facilitate the up and down movement of the motor 36, and the frame member supporting same.

At the. lower end of frame 35 in each of the arms 45, a roller 54 is rotatably mounted which is adapted to contact the surface to be cleaned and to keep the brush in proper relation thereto, such that the most efficient beating and brushing be effected.

A spring 55 is interposed between the wall 58 of the floor tool framing the top of the nozzle mouth, and the lower portion of frame 35, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6. The function of the spring is to support some of the weight of the motor, the frame in which it is mounted and which also supports the agitator spindle 32 and its component parts, the spring in other words functioning as a partial counter-weight facilitating the up and down movement of the agitator and motor assembly. A passageway 51 connects 35 the nozzle with the tube 20 leading to the suction creating unit carried on the handle I.

In the operation of the device the agitator 32 will be constantly moved up and down in the nozzle 6 in order that it will always be in proper relation to the surface being cleaned regardless of the undulation therein, or the character of the surface whereby the maximum cleaning effect will be performed by the cleaner.

The above is considered to so fully reveal the gist of the invention that anyone reading the above specifications in connection with the accompanying drawings and applying the principles thereof, can reproduce the same. That which is considered new, novel and useful, and which it is sought to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool comprising a suction chamber having a mouth, means supporting said suction chamber for travel over a surface to be cleaned, with said mouth spaced above said surface, a frame slidably mounted therein, an agitator rotatably mounted in said frame, a motor mounted on said frame, means connecting said motor and said agitator whereby 0 said agitator may be driven by said motor, said frame, motor and agitator comprising a unit that is vertically movable in said floor tool with said agitator located in said mouth, and resilient means'interposed between said unit and said chamber and adapted to assist in maintaining said agitator in a proper working position with reference to said surface.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool including a suction chamber having a mouth, means supporting said chamber a predetermined distance above a surface to be cleaned, a frame substantially vertically slidable in said floor tool, a rotatable agitator mounted on said frame and supported in said nozzle mouth, a motor mounted on said frame, means connecting said motor and saidagitator to rotate the latter, roller means mounted on said frame adapted to contact said surface to maintain said agitator a predetermined distance above said surface and resilient means arranged to support a portion of the weight of said frame and the parts supported thereby so that said roller may more easily follow undulations in said surface.

3. In a floor tool for a vacuum cleaner, a casing including wall means defining a suction chamber having a mouth, a frame vertically movable in said casing, means supported in said casing adapted to slidably support said frame, a rotatable agitator carried by said frame, roller means on said casing adapted to support said casing for movement on a surface being cleaned, roller means on said frame adapted to support said agitator in said mouth at a predetermined distance above said surface and resilient means disposed between said chamber wall and said frame adapted to support a portion of the weight of said frame and the elements supported thereby.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a floor tool including a suction chamber'having a mouth, rollers on which said floor tool is supported for travel over a carpet to be cleaned, with said mouth spaced above said carpet, a frame vertically movable in said floor tool, a rotatable agitator journalled in said frame and disposed in said mouth, means carried by said frame for driving said agitator, and means including a roller journalled in the lower region of said frame adapted to contact said carpet, for maintaining said agitator in a proper working position with reference to said carpet regardless of undulations in said carpet.

5. A vacuum cleaner as defined in the preceding claim, wherein said agitator driving means comprises a motor mounted in said frame above said agitator.

6. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 4, in which said'means for maintaining the agitator in proper working position further includes a spring arranged to counter-balance a portion of the weight of said frame and the parts carried thereby.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing including a suction chamber having a mouth, means supporting said casing for travel over a surface to be cleaned, with said mouth spaced above said surface, a motor driven agitator, and a substantially vertically movable frame in said casing, said frame carrying said agitator and being arranged to respond to undulations in said supporting surface for automatically adjusting said agitator to proper working position, and resilient means in said casing acting on said frame to .yieldingly support a portion of the combined weight of said frame and agitator so as to enable said frame to more readily respond to said undulations.

DEWEY M. DOW. FREDERICK H. BURMEIS'I'ER. CHRISTIAN R. HECKLER. 

